Portable swine pen



June 21, 1966 R. A. PALS PORTABLE SWINE PEN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 22, 1964 Aim U Fry. 3

June 21, 1966 R. A. PALS PORTABLE SWINE PEN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 22, 1964 Mam/v70? P055974. P445 59 United States Patent 3,256,858 PORTABLE SWINE PEN Robert A. Pals, Alexander, Iowa Filed July 22, 1964, Ser. No. 384,418 4 Claims. (Cl. 11916) This invention relates to improvements in domesticated animal pens and contemplates the provision of an all weather, portable pen adapted particularly for swine.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved swine pen.

:It is another object of this invention to provide a readily portable swine pen, whereby the pen can be pulled from place to place as conditions may require.

it is still another object of this invention to provide a portable pen for raising small stock, housing and protecting them in all seasons of the year, which during cold weather will afford ample protection, and during warm weather provide the necessary ventilation in order to maintain the stock in a healthy condition.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a portable swine pen of strong and durable construction, but' which is comprised of readily available materials whereby the pen is easily built on the farm.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a portable swine pen with a floor one portion of which is protected from the weather, and another portion of which is adapted for feeding purposes, whereby the animal tends to defecate at an area away from the weather protected floor portion.

It is another object of this invention to provide a portable swine pen which is enclosed by a screen or fence material, a section of which is laterally movable to provide an opening to the pen, thereby obviating the necessity of a special gate device.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a portable swine pen a portion of the floor of which is covered by a roof, with a second roof vertically adjustably movable relative to the floor to help contain warmth in the winter time while shielding the stock from the heat in the summer.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a portable swine pen with a floor area on one portion of which any conventional feeding structure is supportable.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a portable swine pen capable of attaining the above designated objectives which is economical, practical, and readily constructed.

These objects, and other features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent upon reference to the following description when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of this invention; I

FIG. 2 is a slightly enlarged, elevational view of the front end of the portable swine pen of FIG. 1 as viewed from the right end thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the front portion of the pen, showing the front section of the fence enclosure moved laterally to the left;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged view of a detail of a post and fence clamp arrangement;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the portable swine pen of this invention, as viewed along the line 5-5 in FIG. 6, showing the floor plan; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, side elevational view of the portable swine pen of this invention, certain parts thereof broken away for clarity of illustration, with other parts shown in alternate positions for the same purpose.

Referring now to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the portable swine pen of this invention is indicated generally at .10 in FIG. 1, and includes a substantially rectangular, normally horizontal floor, indicated generally at 11, supported on a quartet of elongated, parallel, transversely spaced skids 12 by means of a plurality of upright posts 13 and joists 14 and 16.

The pen 10 includes further front and rear sections (only the front section 17 shows) of wire fencing, and side sections '18 and 19, all section secured to the posts 13 by conventional clamps 21 (FIG. 4). The rear side posts 13' are of varied height as best viewed in FIG. 6 to support in a rear-wardly sloping roof 22 of corrugated steel, a plurality of 2 X 6 stringers 23 secured to and extended between the posts 13 for transverse support.

The floor 11 is divided longitudinally into three substantially equal areas as best illustrated in FIG. 5. The rear area 11A is solid and is comprised of a plurality of 2 x 12 planks 24 laid tightly side-by-side in a longitudinally extended manner. As seen in FIG. 6, the length of the plank area 11A extends from the rear post 13' to the third post 13' from the left as viewed, with the planks supported by three 2 x 8 joists 14. This floor area 11A is completely covered by the roof 22.

The central or intermediate floor portion 113 extends from the third post 13' to the fifth post 13 from the left, as viewed in FIG. 6, and includes a plurality of sections of slatted oa-k flooring .26. The sections are purchased commercially usually in 2 x 8 sections, with the individual slats being transversely spaced to permit the manure and other foreign matter to fall through to the ground below. Steel slat sections are commercially available and could readily be substituted. This central floor area 11B is supported on three transverse joists 16.

As also best viewed in FIG. 5, the front floor section 11C has a solid transversely centered area comprised of additional planks 2 x 12 plan-ks 27, with the equal side areas being of additional slatted sections of oak flooring 28. The flooring 26 and '28 could be longitudinally continuous if desired. The purpose for the centered area of planks 27 is to provide space for any commercially available feeder house 29 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 6). By this arrangement, the animals will tend to defecate after feeding, adjacent the house 23 rather than on the floor area 11A, whereby a cleaner and healthier pen will be maintained.

As mentioned hereinbefore, a quartet of skids 12 are secured to the bottom of the posts 13. The skids are preferably of 2 z" O.D. heavy duty pipe, with the ends 31 turned upwardly. The two intermediate skids 12 are secured to shortened struts 32 (FIG. 6) which extends from the floor down to the skids. All posts 13 and struts 32 are braced by angle iron braces 33 (FIGS. 1 and 6).

To provide a ready means of access to the floor 11, the front section 17 of fencing has its ends free and merely intertwined with the side fence sections 18 and 19 with only the center two posts 13a and 13!: (FIG. 2) having fence clamps 21. Thus, upon removing these clamps 21 from the posts and 13b, the fence sections 17 can be moved laterally in either direction to open up the enclosure. FIG. 3 shows the fence section 17 moved to the left, opening thereby most of the space between posts 13b and 13c. An elongated support 30 (FIG. 2) is secured across the front posts to stabilize same.

At the rear of the pen, 4 x 8 sections 34 (FIGS. 1 and 6) of paneling can be secured to the rear and sides to provide a more complete enclosure for the animals. Additionally, a secondary or false roof floater 36 of combined panels can be mounted on a plurality of transverse members 37 adapted to be supported at their ends 38 (FIG. 1) on the fencing. Thus, by merely changing the vertical location of the members 37 the vertical spacing of the roof floater 36 above the floor 11 can be varied. In

3 the Winter the floater 36 can be used to preserve the heat of the animals about the floor area 11A, and in the summer the floater can be used to help keep the suns rays 01f the animals.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been described and disclosed hereinbefore, it is to be remembered that various modifications and alterations can be made thereto without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A portable swine pen comprising in combination:

a substantially rectangular floor a portion approximately one-third the length thereof and the entire width of which is solid, and the remainder of which includes parallel, elongated slats transversely spaced and extended longitudinally of the floor;

a plurality of upright posts spaced about the periphery .of said floor, said posts extended above and below said floor; support means secured to and extended transversely between said posts for supporting said floor;

a plurality of ground engageable skid members secured to for supporting said posts;

' a screen supported on said posts about the sides of the floor forming thereby an enclosure, one portion of said screen separable from the remainder and movable laterally from a position completing the enclosure to a position opening said enclosure;

a first roof mounted on said posts over said solid floor;

and

' a second roof vertically movably mounted beneath said first roof on said screen.

2. A portable swine pen comprising'in combination:

a substantially rectangular floor divided longitudinally into three portions, one portion at one end being completely solid, the intermediate portion comprising parallel, elongated, transversely extended slats extended longitudinally of the floor, and the third porverse portion solid, with portions at each side thereof including additional ones of said slats;

a plurality of upright posts spaced about the periphery of said floor, said posts extended above and below said fioor;

' support means secured to and extended transversely between said posts for supporting said floor;

a plurality of ground engageable skid members secured to forsupporting said posts;

a screen supported on said posts about the sides of the floor forming thereby an enclosure, one portion of said screen separable from the remainder and movable laterally from a position completing the enclosure to a position opening said enclosure;

a first roof mounted on said posts over said solid floor;

and

a second roof vertically movably mounted beneath said first roof on said screen.

3. A portable swine pen as described in claim 2, and further wherein feeding means are mounted on said central transverse portion.

4. A portable swine pen as described in claim 2, and further wherein. a plurality of panels are secured across said one end, being attached to the posts at said one end, with additional panels supported on the sides of said one end whereby to form a complete enclosure at said one end with said first roof, except for the open front thereof facing said intermediate floor portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 738,340 9/ 1903 Mapes 119-16 1,71 1,004 4/1929 Youngman 1-1915 1,875,433 9/ 193 2 Fitzpatrick 11916 SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

HUGH R. CHAMBLEE, Examiner. 

1. A PORTABLE SWINE PEN COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR FLOOR A PORTION APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD THE LENGTH THEREOF AND THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF WHICH IS SOLID, AND THE REMAINDER OF WHICH INCLUDES PARALLEL, ELONGATED SLATS TRANSVERSELY SPACED AND EXTENDED LONGITUDINALLY OF THE FLOOR; A PLURALITY OF UPRIGHT POSTS SPACED ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID FLOOR, SAID POSTS EXTENDED ABOVE AND BELOW SAID FLOOR; SUPPORT MEANS SECURED TO AND EXTENDED TRANSVERSELY BETWEEN SAID PORTS FOR SUPPORTING SAID FLOOR; A PLURALITY OF GROUND ENGAGEABLE SKID MEMBERS SECURED TO FOR SUPPORTING SAID POSTS; A SCREEN SUPPORTED ON SAID POSTS ABOUT THE SIDES OF THE FLOOR FORMING THEREBY AN ENCLOSURE, ONE PORTION OF SAID SCREEN SEPARABLE FROM THE REMAINDER AND MOVABLE LATERALLY FROM A POSITION COMPLETING THE ENCLOSURE TO A POSITION OPENING SAID ENCLOSURE; A FIRST ROOF MOUNTED ON SAID PORTS OVER SAID SOLID FLOOR; AND A SECOND ROOF VERTICALLY MOVABLY MOUNTED BENEATH SAID FIRST ROOF ON SAID SCREEN. 